While a tabled motion around the Valley Nursing Home was not reached at the September meeting of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, members have briefly discussed correspondence received from the Minister for Health and the Coroner’s Office.

Last month, members agreed to write to the Minister for Health requesting an Independent Review to be commissioned into the closure process of Valley Nursing Home in Clogher to ascertain how many deaths were attributed to the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) decision to close the facility.

The Minister’s response stated: “The closure of a care home is always a last resort. 

“However, when the regulator reaches a decision to deregister a care home provider failing to maintain requisite care standards, it does so to protect the safety and well-being of residents.”

While the response confirmed seven deaths of Southern Health and Social Trust patients occurred by January 2021, “all had underlying medical conditions and passed away in hospital”.

There were also seven Western Health and Social Care Trust patient deaths, and “all had pre-existing conditions and death was not a result of transfer”.

The Minister added he is: “Fully satisfied with assurances from the Trusts involved that every necessary step taken during the transition process and thereafter to ensure the residents were settled within their new homes.

“There is also no record that any resident passed away as a direct result of this process.”

In relation to the Coroner’s Service, members requested an opinion on the RQIA decision to close the facility during the Covid-19 lockdown, and whether this contributed to subsequent fatalities.

The response set out the coroner’s role to enquire into reported deaths “that appear to be unexpected or unexplained; as a result of violence; an accident; as a result of negligence; from any cause other than natural illness or disease; or other circumstances that require investigation”.

The response continued: “A coroner will make all the necessary enquiries in order to establish the cause of death.

“Subject to the reporting of particular cases for investigation, neither is it for this office to investigate the decision of the RQIA to close the nursing home, nor [to] have an opinion on same.”

Councillor Donal O’Cofaigh, CCLA, who has tabled the pending motion, described the responses as “very inadequate”, and felt the Coroner’s Office in particular didn’t address the issues raised.

However, he noted: “It certainly confirms there has been no coroner’s investigation in relation to the 14-plus deaths, as confirmed by the Minister’s correspondence.”

Councillor Josephine Deehan, Independent, was disappointed by both responses, telling members: “I’m really surprised at the lack of detail.

“While I’m conscious of medical confidentiality, it’s really quite extraordinary that there were 14 deaths of former residents.

“The Minister says all the residents had medical conditions, and their deaths were not as a result of the transfer, but there’s actually no attempt to give any further explanation or reassurance.”

Members decided to reserve further comment until after the motion is debated in full, which is now tabled for the Policy and Resources Committee meeting on Wednesday, September 14.